I’ve been living in my downtown rental for two years. It’s a 10 year old condo that has updated appliances, hardwood floors, and a spectacular view of the city.

When I moved there in 2009, I requested Mark, the owner, put a warranty on the condo. Against my suggestion, he politely declined, explaining that he had just put in new appliances about 3 years ago and it would be a “waste of money”.

Now let’s fast forward to last March when I noticed the floor to my walk in closet was damp. Actually, it was soaked. When I opened the HVAC closet, I saw the unit had frozen and was thawing out, dripping water onto the floor, causing it to seep into the closet. Franticly, I called Mark, and he called an HVAC company to come take a look at the unit.

The company recommended replacement and quoted Mark $6,600. Mark, of course, not having $6,600 just lying around, wanted to shop for a better price. As a result, I was displaced for about 28 days while he was comparing prices and replacing the unit, which meant he could not charge me for the month that I was not there. Now Mark was out over $8,000.

The cause of failure was that the compressor, being about 10 years old, had locked up. This caused the unit to freeze and ultimately fail.

This was coverable by a home warranty. It would’ve only cost him $75 to replace the unit if he had just put the warranty in place when I had asked.

Now I’m not the type of girl to say, “I told you so”, but I did have to inform Mark of his costly mistake.

I am happy to report that I now have a warranty. I have had the dishwasher and garbage disposal repaired, the ice maker replaced, and even a new bath tub stopper installed. The warranty covered all of these repairs and Mark only paid a small deductable.

So who needs a warranty? Everyone!

A home, in any given year, has a 68% chance of a system or appliance failure. That includes anything from a microwave to a hot water heater. Depending on the appliance or system, repairs can cost anywhere from $50 to thousands. I don’t think I know anyone that has thousands tucked away for a special occasion like an HVAC replacement!

So, what’s the moral of this story? Don’t be like Mark. If you’re buying a home, ask they include a warranty. If you’re selling or renting a home take advantage of seller’s coverage. Talk to your realtor about how a home warranty can benefit you. Always protect yourself and your pocket. You’ll be happy you did!!

Jaime Rose

HSA Home Warranty Representative for Charlotte and Western NC

Have you ever considered a project around your home and wondered whether or not a permit was required? Whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or hire it all out, many repairs around the home do require permitting from the county.

Here are a few examples of when you might need a permit:

New deck

Anything structural- removing a wall, replacing damaged framing in a crawl space, adding a closet, etc.

HVAC changeouts

Plumbing appliance changeout – water heater, dishwasher, etc.

Adding or changing electrical wiring

Permits and the inspection process do add some time and cost to a project…but the system is designed to protect you, the homeowner from shoddy and sometimes unsafe work.

The current cost in Mecklenburg County for permits is $62.85 minimum per trade. Per trade means that if you build a covered porch and wire it up will need a building permit and an electrical permit, or two trades. This covers the fee for projects up to $3,000. From $3,000 to 50K add $12.83 per thousand of total contract cost over $3,000. Of course, if you hire a professional contractor, the cost of the permitting should be included in the total project cost.

If you are unsure whether you need a permit, or have any questions for the building inspection department, Mecklenburg County has set up a hotline for homeowners and contractors alike. It’s called RTAC, the Residential Technical Answer Center. Just call 704-432-7822 during regular business hours and all will be revealed.

Russ Halberstadt

Broker’s Choice

Rhalberstadt@carolina.rr.com

Here is a video of our new office.  The conference rooms have large monitors with wireless connectivity to show clients potential homes or come March watch some NCAA B-Ball on the streaming video.

Click here to view the embedded video.